MX23RW : Sunday, January 19 02:18:42| >> :600:482868:482868:

Steve Bruce confirms transfer summit with Mike Ashley

Steve Bruce confirms transfer summit with Mike Ashley
© Reuters
The Magpies owner sanctioned major spending during the summer.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce will sit down with owner Mike Ashley this week to thrash out a plan for what remains of the January transfer window.

The sportswear tycoon is due to make a rare trip to Tyneside to meet the man he appointed as Rafael Benitez's successor during the summer, when he sanctioned big-money bids for record signing Joelinton and fellow forward Allan Saint-Maximin.

An injury crisis has left Bruce struggling to put together a team for Tuesday night's FA Cup replay against League One Rochdale, but while Bruce is confident of Ashley's continued support, he has insisted he will not spend for the sake of it this month.

He said: "I'm meeting up with the owner in the next couple of days, that's planned.

"As I've said all along, if there's something that can really make us better and they're available, then we'll try to act, and I'll ask the owner, who was very supportive in the summer.

"Let's see, let's see what we can get. But I've said all along, I won't just bring players in for the sake of it. Most of the injuries we've picked up are minor, so they will be back in two or three weeks.

"I'm not one for just bringing in players for the sake of it. They've got to improve us and if that can happen, then I'll have that conversation with the owner over the next couple of days."

Asked if he expected Ashley to be as supportive as he was during the summer window, Bruce replied: "He was very supportive in the summer and he's been very supportive of me full-stop, so yes, I expect that."

Newcastle head into the replay with defender Paul Dummett and striker Dwight Gayle having been added to a lengthy casualty list with hamstring injuries suffered during Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Wolves, although skipper Jamaal Lascelles could return from a fractured tibia.

The Magpies failed to make the most of a promising first-half performance at the Crown Oil Arena and were eventually pegged back by 40-year-old Aaron Wilbraham's equaliser, and Bruce is expecting another tricky encounter at St James' Park.

Asked if his players were embarrassed to have allowed Wilbraham to score, he replied: "No, it's not embarrassing, well played to him. He's been around a long, long time and he obviously looks after himself. It's credit to him.

"There are not many people playing at 40, but well done to him – and to get a goal, of course, he gets all the headlines."

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Steve Bruce

Click here for more stories about Newcastle United

Share this article now:
New Instagram promo
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo applauds fans after the match on January 1, 2020
Read Next:
Nuno Espirito Santo admits that Wolves need January reinforcements
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

Premier League
Championship
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Segunda Division
Serie B
Ligue 2
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Liga MX
Australian A-League
European Champions Cup
European Challenge Cup
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21201050143661
2Manchester CityMan City23153564273748
3Leicester CityLeicester22143547212645
4Chelsea2312383930939
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd2297636251134
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2381053430434
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd238962522333
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs238783631531
9Crystal Palace237972226-430
10Arsenal2361163032-229
11Everton2385102633-729
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2385102234-1229
13Southampton2384112942-1328
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2367102631-525
15Burnley2273122437-1324
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2265112634-823
17Watford2358102034-1423
18Aston Villa2364132944-1522
19Bournemouth2355132036-1620
20Norwich CityNorwich2345142345-2217

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!